From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Recommendation to replace pre-war experimental aluminium engines with cost-effective High Power Cast Iron units.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 144\4\ scan0055 | |
| Date | 28th March 1940 | |
| -- Ha./SH.28.3.40. -- The BT{Capt. J. S. Burt - Engineer}'s built experimentally before the war all had aluminium engines in them, and these engines are now obsolete both from a cost and a performance basis. Our recommendations are, therefore, that we re-engine these cars with High Power Cast Iron units of the various sizes designed. This will inevitably mean a fair number of units, but now that the basic designs are stabilised experimental production should be simplified. Incidentally it should be remembered that according to MEM.C.H.2/JS.{Mr Johnson's Secretary}17.10.39., a R.10 has a factory cost of £80. against an aluminium Bentley unit of £133.10.0d. so that the man hours to produce experimental units should be correspondingly reduced. Again two types are 4 cylinder with a consequent reduction in cost. Fortunately no one (and the drawings have been to America) seems to have been able to suggest any alterations in design whereby the production cost of the unit can be lowered materially. Ha. | ||